Why Does Divorce Spike During March and August?

Going through a divorce can be a scary and difficult time in a person’s life. Often times, it is a situation that was a long time coming. With that said, it is rare for a couple to spontaneously get divorced. Instead, it is usually a long and thought out decision that is made over the course of time. In order to make this decision, spouses typically consider different factors. These factors can sometimes determine the time of year that a couple makes the jump towards divorce. A new study showed that many couples tend to get divorced in either the month of March or August. There are several logical reasons as to why this trend exists.

What Causes the Spike?

Generally speaking, unhappy couples tend to schedule their divorce filings around winter holidays and summer vacations. The filings drop significantly lower around holidays such as the Christmas season and Valentine’s Day at the beginning of the new year. Many attest these decisions to not wanting to ruin the holiday season, especially if there are children in the family. 

During the summer months, families tend to go on vacation. It is because of this that divorces usually do not occur during this time. Instead, couples tend to file for divorce due to irreconcilable differences right after a big trip. This may be due to two reasons: the couple did not want to ruin a family getaway or the stress of vacationing together drove an already unsatisfied spouse towards divorce. 

The Divorce Process in NJ

In order to begin the process of divorce, a spouse must file for divorce with the Superior Court. Once this is done, pendente lite orders can be requested. This addresses certain marital issues such as child custody or child support. The court will conduct what is referred to as “discovery,” in which the financial information of both spouses is gathered. There are different ways that a couple may choose to complete the process of divorce. This can be done through litigation, mediation, arbitration, or a collaborative divorce. While all these processes are different, they work towards accomplishing the same goal of settling the couple’s marital issues and finalizing the divorce. 

If the spouses are unable to reach an agreement regarding their marital issues, they can attend a trial in order to reach a settlement. In these cases, the judge has the right to make these decisions on behalf of the couple. Once the final decisions are made, the divorce can be finalized by the court with a Final Judgement of Divorce.

Contact our Firm

If you need an experienced legal team to guide you through your divorce, contact Townsend, Tomaio & Newmark L.L.C today.